COMMISSIONING
FIRE-LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
2008 ACG Annual Meeting
Presenter: Mark Leafstedt, PE, CxA
Best Practices for Total Building Commissioning!
Agenda
 ¡ Viva Las Vegas !
 Fire Life Safety Building Codes
 Means & Methods of Fire Life
Safety Commissioning
 Conclusion
Viva Las Vegas
Statistics
According to 2005 statistics published by
Insider Viewpoint Las Vegas:
 80+ major casinos
 133,000 hotel rooms w/ 89.2% occupancy (20,000+
more open by 2010)
 38.6 million tourists
• >25 billion $ in current construction
• 7 out of the top 10 world’s largest hotels reside within a
five-mile radius of each other in Las Vegas
• The largest hotel has approximately 5500 guest rooms
Viva Las Vegas
Relationship to Commissioning
 100% growth each year since 1950 = More construction
 Schedule = Liquidated damages of up to $7 million a day
 Dependency on tourism = Occupant comfort is paramount
 Reputation = Need for safety and strictest codes in the country
 High occupancy = Little to no time for maintenance
Viva Las Vegas
Life Safety Cx vs Building Cx
 Building Commissioning is an owner-driven
requirements.
 Smoke Control/ Life Safety Commissioning is
a Code driven requirement.
Viva Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Fire
WHAT?
 1980 fire swept through the 26-story hotel,
killing 84 and injuring 679.

There were about 5,000 people in the hotel at
the time.

This was the second largest hotel fire in
history.

It started in the first floor restaurant and
spread at a rate of 19 feet per second.

A massive fireball traveled through the
casino and blew through the glass entrance
doors, injuring people and destroying cars.
Viva Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Fire
WHY?
 A wire was not properly grounded.
…all of which “could
have been found had
the area been
inspected.”
 A compressor was not properly installed.
 A piece of copper was not insulated correctly.
 A supposedly smoke-free stairwell that was
a crucial escape route filled with smoke.
 The laundry chutes failed to seal, and
defects existed in the HVAC system -- all
contributing to the spread of smoke.”
 A fire alarm never sounded.
 The Hotel had refused to pay for the $192,000 sprinkler system.
Source: Sunday, November 19, 2000, Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal “MGM GRAND FIRE: THE DEADLIEST DAY” by Glenn Puit
MGM GRAND FIRE OF 1980
Just one bad
Building?
Just 3 months
later, there
was a fire in
the Las Vegas
Hilton that
resulted in 8
dead and 198
injured.
Viva Las Vegas
Results of the MGM Fire
Globally
• $223 million in legal settlements
• Extensive Changes in NFPA
Including fire protection for seismic joints, elevator
standards, smoke-proof enclosures, active/passive fire
protection systems
• Evolution of the following building codes for
high-rise buildings
1994 UBC, section 905
1997 UBC, section 905
2003 IBC, section 909
Agenda
Fire Life Safety Building Codes
•
•
•
•
History of the Building Codes
Smoke Control Requirements
Fundamentals of Smoke Control Systems
Section 909 of 2003 IBC
Code Overview
Building regulations date back to the beginning of
recorded history. The Code of Hammurabi
(2200B.C) included simple but effective building
code provision. “If any architect built a house so
negligently that it fell down and killed the owner’s
son, then the architect’s son was put to death.”
In 1630, the City of Boston mandated that “no
man shall build his chimney with wood nor
cover his roof with thatch”.
The enforcement authority is derived from the 10th Amendment
of the US Constitution which gives states the right to legislate
for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.
Code Overview
History
 Prior to the issuance of the IBC, there were
three organizations of building officials who
were responsible for developing and enforcing
building codes in the United States:



Building Officials and Code Administrators
(BOCA) in the Northeast and Midwest
International Conference of Building Officials
(ICBO) in the West
Southern Building Code Congress International
(SBCCI) in the Southeast
Code Overview
Definition
“A combination of architectural,
electrical & mechanical system
design approach that utilized air
flow and/or pressure to contain
or remove smoke during a fire
event”
Code Overview
Requirements
 High Rise Exit
Enclosures
 Atriums
 Covered Malls
 Underground
Building
Code Overview
Fundamentals
Types of Smoke Control:
Active:
An active smoke control system utilizes mechanical air handling
equipment, i.e. supply fans, relief fans or smoke exhaust fans to
contain or remove smoke in the zone of origin.
Passive:
A passive smoke control system utilizes construction barriers to
maintain the smoke in the zone of origin. (Typical passive smoke
control systems would be found in equipment rooms, motel rooms.)
Code Overview
Section 909 of 2003 IBC
Section 909.18: This section discusses:
Acceptance Testing
Individual Device Testing
Detection Devices
Duct Traverses
Dampers
Inlet/Outlet Air Quantities
Fans
Smoke Barriers
Special Inspection Reports
Agenda
Means & Methods of Fire Life
Safety Systems Commissioning
• How Hard Can it Be?
• Roles & Responsibilities
• Commissioning Phases
Means & Methods
How Hard Can it Be?
 Introduction
 Detail
 Timing
 Intensity
Means & Methods
How Hard Can it Be?
 Introduction
 Similar
Process to Mechanical Cx
 Failures Critical
 Special Inspector
Means & Methods
How Hard Can it Be?
 Detail
 Simplistic
in Concept
 Complexity in Detail & Quantity
 Requirements Code Prescribed
 100% Testing
Means & Methods
How Hard Can it Be?
 Timing
 “DONE”
Done prior to Certificate of
Occupancy
 Testing Concurrent w/ Construction
 No Post-Occupancy Deficiencies &
Issues
Means & Methods
How Hard Can it Be?
 Intensity
 Critical
Construction Sequencing
 C3 Syndrome (Construction Completion Conjestion)
 Panic
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Prime Contractor
 Subcontractors
 Designer
 Owner
 Commissioning Provider
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Prime Contractor
 Construction
of the Envelope
 Coordination
 Communication
 Scheduling
 Advocate!
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Subcontractor(s)
 Provide Input into the schedule
 Attend meetings
 Provide realistic completion information
 Avoid defensive posturing
 Assist in finding resolutions
 Proactively & quickly respond to
deficiencies
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Designer
 Provide
detailed smoke control
diagrams
 Respond timely to to questions, issues,
& changes
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Owner
 Hire
the Commissioning Provider (req’d
by code)
 Remain calm amidst the chaos
 Provide Contractor direction (if
necessary) to respond to Cx issues &
deficiencies
Means & Methods
Roles & Responsibilities
 Commissioning Provider - General
 Part coach, task-master, expert, judge &
mediator
 Build a Team!!
 Coordinate & Manage Cx Activities
 Obtain, assemble, create & submit Cx
documentation
 Meet & coordinate with the AHJ
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Life Safety System Commissioning
Phases
 Design
& Construction Document
Review
 Document Development
 Pre-Functional Testing
 Functional Testing
 Commissioning Completion
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Life Safety System Design Review
 Fire
Protection Report provided?
 Equivalent to Design Intent (Referred to
as a “Rational Analysis”
Means & Methods
FIRE PROTECTION REPORT
AUGUST 6, 2004
SMOKE CONTROL
1.
The overall concept includes a combination of mechanical systems and passive containment for the
building. The building’s fire alarm system will be used to control, monitor and activate the
mechanical smoke control systems.
2.
Guestroom Levels (Levels 3-32).
a.
Upon activation of a corridor smoke detector, the corridor air-handling units will shut
down and elevator lobby doors will close. The smoke exhaust fans located on the roof will
start. Dampers will be installed on a common shaft that will normally be used to supply
outside air to the corridors and provide smoke exhaust functions during an event/alarm. All
dampers will close throughout the floors served by the common shafts except the exhaust
dampers will open on the fire floor. Exhaust will be sized based on Section 905 of the
UBC to maintain a minimum negative pressure of 0.05 inches of water column relative to
the adjacent units, elevator lobbies and stairwell vestibules on the floor of origin.
b.
Each guestroom, elevator lobby, maid closet, and similar type room will be treated as
passive areas. Units with interconnecting doors will be treated as one common passive
area.
c.
The bathroom exhaust vents are not considered a part of the smoke control system, and are
not subject to pressure or leakage testing. Exhaust fans serving the toilet rooms will
continue to operate and be provided with emergency power. 22-inch sub-ducts will be
provided within the toilet exhaust shafts.
d.
A minimum of 2 guestrooms per floor (one on each side of the corridor, with selection
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Life Safety System Design Review
 Are
the smoke control diagrams
complete?
 Are all fire/smoke dampers shown?
 Do the sprinkler zones & smoke
boundaries match?
Means & Methods
DESIGN DOCUMENTATION
Smoke Control
Diagrams - Floor Plans
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Design & Submittal Review
 Are
all smoke control devices included?
 Is the equipment compliant with the
code?
 Does the smoke control system
contractor’s design-build design meet
the Engineer’s design, codes & AHJ
criteria?
Means & Methods
Smoke Control Diagrams - Functional Matrix
Means & Methods
Passive Zone Leakage Calculations
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Document Development
 Develop

Detailed roadmap of expectations
 Develop

the commissioning plan
functional testing scenarios
Must include an individual check-off for
EVERY piece of equipment
 Submit
Cx plan to the AHJ
Means & Methods
DOCUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT
Means & Methods
DOCUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
Section
Life Safety System Outline
HVAC System Outline
1
Acceptance Letter
Executive Summary
2
Executive Summary
Commissioning Team
3
Commissioning Team
Mechanical System Overview
4
Overview of Acceptance Testing Procedures
Overview of Commissioning Procedures
5
Fire Protection Report
Record Document - Sequences of Operation
6
Smoke Management Sequences/Matrix
Pre-Functional Testing Checklists
7
Component Testing Forms
Functional Testing Procedures
8
Functional Testing Scenarios & Results
Deficiencies & Issues Log
9
Test & Balance Report
Daily Logs
10
Product Data Sheets
Miscellaneous Data
11
Deficiencies & Issues Log
12
Daily Inspection Reports
13
Non-Compliance Reports
14
Miscellaneous Data
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Pre-Functional
 Assist in component pre-testing before
functional
 Individually confirm F/S Damper
commands and status feedback.
 Confirm fan command & status
 Review FAS software “rules”
Means & Methods
COMPONENT INSPECTION
Pressurization Fan
Means & Methods
COMPONENT INSPECTION
Fire Smoke Damper
Means & Methods
COMPONENT INSPECTION
Fire Command
Means & Methods
COMPONENT INSPECTION
Fire Fighter’s Smoke Control Panel
Means & Methods
COMPONENT INSPECTION
Fire Protection Flow Station
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Pre-Functional
 Provide site observations & barrier
inspection
Means & Methods
BOUNDARY INSPECTION
Conduit Penetrations
Means & Methods
BOUNDARY INSPECTION
Floor Slab Penetrations
Means & Methods
BOUNDARY INSPECTION
Duct Penetrations
Means & Methods
BOUNDARY INSPECTION
Elevator Shaft Enclosure
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Functional Testing
 When
does FT begin?
 Does construction have to be complete?
 How can FT be phased?
 How can multiple tests be avoided?
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Functional Testing
 Assist
in or define testing teams
 Witness functionality testing of the
system
 Include component interaction
 Track deficiencies
Means & Methods
PASSIVE ZONE TESTING
Means & Methods
DUCT DETECTOR TESTING
Means & Methods
Commissioning Phases
 Commissioning Completion
 Submit
final report to AHJ
 Correct report deficiencies
 Assist in coordination & scheduling of
AHJ
 Assist during the AHJ inspection
 ALL SYSTEMS TESTING!
Conclusion
Summary
 Discussed Critical Nature of Life
Safety Systems
 Reviewed Code Requirements
 Discussed Life Safety System
Commissioning Means & Methods
 Encourage Life Safety System
Commissioning in other Cities
Questions ?
Thanks for your attention!
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